Invalid walking and apparatus



y 1940. v. A. MURRAY 2,206,234

INVALID WALKING AID APPARATUS I Filed April 19, 19:58

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 2, 1940 zgoazst PATENT oFrlcE INVALID WALKING AID APPARATUS Virgil A. Murray, San Diego, Calif.

Application April 19, 1938, Serial No. 202,864

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus to assist one with a broken leg or other injury to the leg, particularly if it is in a cast, so that the person "may walk on the leg which has the cast shortly after it is placed in the cast, and the objects ofmy invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus to be used by a person with a broken or injured leg or foot to walk thereon with relative ease; Second, to provide an apparatus of this class with cushion means which cushions the effect of any jar or weight;

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class with a foot rest for resting the foot on as well as means for securingto the cast;

Fourth, towprovide an apparatus of this class with supporting means that permits the person with a cast to walk in substantially normal condition; l l

, Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is reversible and therefore. applicable for either the right or left leg of the wearer;

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class which maybe readily fitted and applied to the leg with the cast and adapted for various sized feet;

Seventh, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the heighth of the foot from the ground may be adjusted; and

Eighth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to apply, eflioient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure l is a top or plan view of my invalid walking aid apparatus shown arranged for use with the left leg and foot; Fig. 2 is a side elevaticnal view; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view at a right angle to that of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken from the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of Fig.2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several view of the drawing:

The cushion member I, base frame 2, foot support 3, springs 4, spring casings 5, supporting straps 5, and supporting arms 1 constitute the principal parts and portions of my invalid walking aid apparatus. I

a The cushion member l is preferably a rubber pad a little longer than the normal width of the 5 foot. This pad l forms the baseor support for the walking aid apparatus. Itis secured on the lower side of a base frame 2 byrneans of screws in which are countersunk into the member i some distance from the lower side and are screwed into 10 a flat base portion of substantially the same width as the member I. Extending upwardly at opposite ends of the member 2a are round frame portions 2b and 2c. Mounted near the upper ends of these members 2b and 2c are spring members i which are compression springs. These springs 4 are supported on the members 21) and at their lower end by means of nuts to. with washers ib at theirupper sides, shownbest in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Interposed between the members 21) and 2c and supported on said members 2b and 20 through the springs t is the foot support 3. This foot support 55 is substantially the length of the ordinary adult foot and is pref erably shaped substantially the shape of the sole of a shoeor slipper except that it is flat and uniform on both sides. In order to provide a comfortable support at the arch and provide for rev versing for either foot and for adjustment for length, there is provided an arch filler member 3a which isadapted to be positioned on the inner side of the foot when it is used on either the right or left foot of the wearer. It is curved slight 1y cuppcdto fit the arch of the foot at the inner side and is supported by means ofpins which fit into holes to in the foot support sand on the opposite sides ofthe foot support so that the same may be readily transferred from one side to the other forreversal, the dash line position showing the opposite side to the solid line position in Fig. l of the drawing. The foot support is provided with a plurality of holes to to permit longitudinal adjustment of the members So on the member 3 to provide for varying length feet. This foot support 3 is supported some distance above the cushion member I and base portion 2a. by means of L-shaped lugs to secured on the sides of the straps 6. These members are provided with holes 6b in their horizontal portions adapted to receive the upper ends of the members 21) and 20 which are reduced at their upperends as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The upper ends of the springs 4 rest against the horizontal portions 50011 the lug members 5a. The supporting straps 6 extend upwardly some distance above these lugs 60 and are provided at their upper ends with pivotally supported arm members 1, which are adapted to receive tape, or other means of securing the upper ends of these supporting straps 6 to the cast or leg below the knee of the wearer so that the foot rests on the foot support 3. These members 6 extend downwardly and surround the spring 4 by means of spring casing members 5 which are preferably integrally connected with the supporting straps 6 and enclose the springs 4;.as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawing. These straps 6 at their lower ends are turned outwardly at 6d and extend over the members 2b and 2c and secured to their lower sides is a foot support bar to! which extends across from the member 211 to the member 20 and is secured to the foot support 3 as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawing by means of bolts 36 and are sufiiciently loose to permit movement of the members to relatively to the members 222 and 2e with the compression of the spring i.

The operation of my invalid walking aid apparatus is as follows: The person places his foot on the foot support 3. If it is the left foot the member 3a is secured in the position as shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. If it is the right foot, the foot support 3 is turned up side down and the arch member 3a, is placed in the position shown by dash lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, so that it rests on the inner side of the foot at the arch. The members 6 are placed on opposite sides of the leg or cast and secured thereto by tape or otherwise by means of the arm members 1, so that the foot support 3 is rested securely against the bottom of the foot. Then the'person walks by stepping on the foot member which compresses the springs 4 and provides cushion; also the member I rests upon the ground or floor and also provides slight additional cushion and prevents any undue shock or undue pressure upon the injured leg or foot.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an invalid walking aid apparatus, an adjustable foot support .adjustably arranged to fit the bottom of either foot of the'wearer, a pair of rigid metallic straps rigidly secured in connection with said foot support provided with means at right angles thereto to facilitate securing the same to the leg of the wearer, a base frame including two oppositely disposed uprights and cushion means supported on said uprights and supporting said foot support through said metallic straps.

2. In an invalid walking aid apparatus, a pair of rigid metallic vertical strap members, positioned in opposed spaced relation to each other, a base frame including two oppositely disposed uprights-shiftable relative tosaid vertical strap members, springs supporting said strap members and supported by said uprights and a foot support interposed between said strap members and said uprights and guided by said uprights.

3. In an invalid walking aid apparatus, a'pairl of rigid metallic vertical strap membersfpositioned in opposed spaced relation to each other, a base frame including two oppositely disposed uprights shiftable relative to said vertical strap members, springs supporting said strap members and supported by said uprights, a foot support interposed between saidstrap members and said uprights and guided by said uprights, casing means in connection with said rigid metallic vertical strap members and enclosing and encasing said springs, cushion means for supporting the lower ends of said uprights, and means for adjusting the tension of said springs.

VIRGIL A. MURRAY. 

